Where it went wrong for Griquas

REACTION: Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh admitted the Cheetahs' European Challenge Cup experience is a major advantage in the 2023 Currie Cup season.

Last year's Currie Cup finalists kicked off their season with a 19-42 defeat to the Cheetahs in Kimberley on Friday.

The side struggled in the first half trailing 0-22 at the break. They managed to put in a solid show in the last quarter of the match.

However, despite their valiant fightback scoring three tries, they failed to earn a bonus point.

"Im hopeful that it is rustiness and next week we will be better," Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh told reporters in the post-match media briefing.

"In the first half, we struggled to get hold of the ball.

"Everyone was talking about Rosko Specman joining the Griquas and the impact he can make but he only touched the ball for the first time in the 65th minute.

"So we really struggled in the first half and the first 20 minutes in the second half."

Bergh pinpointed that his team could not compete with the Cheetahs' physicality, especially the breakdown.

And added that playing in the European Challenge Cup has added a different component to the Cheetahs' game plan.

"I have to give credit to Cheetahs, they really beat us with physicality at the breakdown and we could not get quick ball on attack. Their defence breakdown with guys like  Gideon van der Merwe was great and then in the second half with Daniel Maartens, they slowed down our game well.

"And then you have Frans Steyn against the wind. I thought he had a brilliant game coming back from injury.

"We knew he hadn't played for a while and we thought we could pin them in their half with the wind but the way he and Ruan Pienaar kicked against the wind was exceptional."

He added: "When you look at how the Cheetahs learned in Europe, especially when it comes to defence at the breakdown and physicality, it has really helped them."

The coach admitted that Friday's defeat does define their season, given that his team suffered similar opening defeats to Cheetahs and Sharks last season but still ended up playing in the 2022 final.

"It is a marathon, not a sprint, but we need to be better," Bergh said.

"Last year we were a different team, we are a much more settled combination and settled coaching staff.

"This game does not define our season, but we need to improve and need to improve quickly.

"Next week against the Sharks is going to be an important match for us."

@Leezil07

@rugby365com